My suitcase full of beads included several strands of diamond-cut rounds
and rondelles. Even though my vacation is winding down, I’m feeling my
creativity crank up.

I used a combo of faceted gemstone, metal and glass. (I usually don’t
mix nicer stones with glass or non-precious metal, it’s a rut I’ve been
in for years.) I tried to let random patterns come together organically
instead of laying out a formal or even rough template in advance.

It ended up being really rewarding and fuel for further inspiration.
Incorporating the playful spirit and bright colors also helped me find a
use for some Ethiopian Opal chips that have been in my stash for years.

Playing with informal patterns also helped me discover a color
combination and pattern to incorporate into a more deliberate design,
too.